Town Square

Downtown-Vision and the "Main Street Partnership"

I have been in Pleasanton for more than 30 years and have the Downtown change very little--
The Pleasanton Hotel used to be a meeting place for all ages--live music -wonderful dinners--Bill Laube did his best and was open to suggestions..
The Main Street Brewery is a good place for gathering, but Matt does not seem open to a variety of music suggestions--he needs to try music that will appeal to all ages..
The Castle Rock Restaurant in Livermore has been "open" to traditional jazz for the older folks, as well as music for different ages and races..
Pleasanton should be more open to the live music venues--
Barones is great for its age group--but we have many retirees who would value traditional jazz in this area..
You can't really "shop" in Pleasanton or Livermore in the Downtown area
In Pleasanton, its the mall--in Livemore-the outlets..
I just came back from Palm Springs where the "Downtown" restaurants are really alive at night with music (different styles)everywhere..

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Posted by Martina Harrison
a resident of Downtown
on Dec 16, 2013 at 8:32 am

When we moved to Pleasanton it seemed like Livermore was the less attractive younger sister. Within the twelve years we have lived here, now Livermore has become the cool sister, and I feel as if Pleasanton has turned into the frumpy old one.
With grandkids, who don't require places to call their own yet, because they sit in strollers.

For many years I have called it my pet peeve, that there was nothing to do within our town, for people of all ages, unless you wanted to spend real money and go eat Italian.
Or go to a spa or one of the many hair salons, and afterward deposit your remaining savings into one of our many banks.

It is not all bad, we have a couple of new eateries and a nice Beer Bistro,- I personally like a hardware store, should it ever open, -BUT we still don't have an interest point to want to walk to and fro from and to our North end of town. Unless Barone's part in the summertime counts as such.

My vision?
I want Pleasanton to see a good role model in Livermore.

We do need parking first of all, or we won't be able to attract more foot traffic. So why not built a parking structure behind the Firehouse or negotiate with the railway and find a possible location across from the library?

We have traffic and really small pedestrian walks.
Still Tully's is the only area where we have something of a piazza.
From an urban planing standpoint we need to work on open areas where people can gather, and listen to music or drink their coffee, or other, in addition to the Tully’s area.
With a street concept, which would slow down traffic and allow for broader pedestrian walks we might feel more like a good stroll between shops.
Hopefully that would attract other stores, and may be the gap on the North end of Main Street could be filled by a business sometimes after all.

Allow us to have a Movie House, or entertain the idea of movie showing at the Firehouse.
Allow the kids to be. If we had a donut parlor in town there would be affordable, though may be not all that healthy for younger clients. I don't think frozen yoghurt is the answer to all youth needs. (Neither are donuts, but it's may be a start.)
I have pointed out in earlier opinion pieces how I would be excited to have something of a food court. The "Domus" building came to mind, but now I see potential in the ex "round table pizza" building. Again please let us not miss an opportunity there for affordable fun to be had.

I am pleased to have "New leaf" in town, even though I am sad it did not settle into downtown. With all Pleasanton does for its residents -street fairs, parades, beer and wine walks- I do believe it starts with urban planing, with a vision rather. So thank you Mr Byrd and please let me know what else I can do as a citizen of Pleasanton to help.